DOWNTOWN CANAL

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. II, ch. 341, art. III

in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 341-301 Definitions.

Sec. 341-301. - Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them: Downtown Canal shall mean that portion of the waterway known as the Central Canal located in downtown Indianapolis, south of 11 th Street and east of West Street, and under the care, custody, control, and management of the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD). Watercraft shall mean any and every instrumentality or device in or by means of which any person(s) or property may be transported on or in the Downtown Canal including, but not limited to, boats, paddleboards, remote control boats, canoes, kayaks, inner tubes or other inflatable devices, motorboats, ice skates, jet skis, water skis, etc. whether propelled by human muscular power, by motor, or by any other means or method. The definition of watercraft shall also include the definition set out in IC 14-8-2-202.5. (G.O. 20, 2021, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 341-302 Unauthorized activities in or on the Downtown Canal.

Sec. 341-302. - Unauthorized activities in or on the Downtown Canal. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, without authority from the city, to do the following: (1) To operate watercraft within the Downtown Canal at any time; (2) To fish, swim, bathe, wash, scuba dive, wade, dive, fish, or ice skate within the Downtown Canal; (3) To send, drive, or ride any animal into the Downtown Canal; (4) To litter or to throw, drop, place or deposit any object into the Downtown Canal or into the bottom thereof, on the surrounding ground or on any other surface adjoining canal. This includes, but is not limited to, any paper, plastic or glass bottles, broken glass, nails, tacks, wire, crockery, cans or any other sharp or cutting substances, chemicals or things dangerous or otherwise harmful or disruptive to the operation of the Downtown Canal or any of its infrastructure; or (5) To place or cause to be placed in the Downtown Canal any post, pile, dam, masonry or structure, or dump therein anything whatever causing a material obstruction of such stream, waterway, or its pumping system. (b) The first violation in any calendar year shall be subject to admission of violation and payment of the designated civil penalty through the ordinance violations bureau in accordance with chapter 103 of this Code. All second and subsequent violations in the calendar year are subject to the enforcement procedures and penalties provided in section 103-3 of this Code. (G.O. 20, 2021, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 341-303 Authorized activities in or on the Downtown Canal.

Sec. 341-303. - Authorized activities in or on the Downtown Canal. (a) Watercraft launching. When authorized by the metropolitan development commission (the MDC), DMD or a designee may allow boats or other watercraft in the Downtown Canal under the following conditions: (1) All watercraft being launched shall be launched from the location designated. (2) DMD, on behalf of the MDC, is authorized to establish applications and launch fees for watercraft entering and using the Downtown Canal. (3) No watercraft shall be launched unless an application has been submitted and the launch fee, established by the MDC, has been paid. (b) DMD, or its designee, may set aside certain times and places and designate the rules for swimming, wading, boating or otherwise entering the Downtown Canal. (c) The MDC may authorize DMD to provide and allow pre-approved vendors and vendor activities on the Downtown Canal. (d) DMD may establish rules and regulations pertaining to any other authorized activities or uses of the Downtown Canal. (G.O. 20, 2021, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 341-304 Disclaimer of city liability.

Sec. 341-304. - Disclaimer of city liability. Notice is hereby given to all persons, whether authorized by the city or not, who operate any kind of watercraft upon the portion of the Downtown Canal within the jurisdiction of the city that all watercraft shall be used and operated solely at the risk of the owner, operator or the persons therein, and that neither the city nor its department of metropolitan development, metropolitan development commission or any other board or city official assumes any responsibility or liability therefor. The city also hereby gives notice to all persons who may use the Downtown Canal that the city and its various boards and officials do not represent that any portion has sufficient depth and is otherwise safe for boating or other purposes, or that it is free and clear of obstructions upon or beneath the surface thereof. (G.O. 20, 2021, § 1)

Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIPUORSA_CH341BODOWA_ARTIIIDOCAFetched: 10/27/2026